Rand Paul: End all foreign aid to Palestinian Authority

posted at 5:41 pm on July 2, 2014 by Noah Rothman

In a powerful op-ed in National Review on Tuesday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) criticized President Barack Obama’s administration for urging Israel to show “restraint” while pursuing justice for the three teenagers murdered by members of Hamas. He stressed that America’s response to this horror should be more forceful. Paul recommended the immediate cessation of U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority.

How many times must Israel hear this call? Children are murdered — please show restraint. Cafés and buses are bombed — please show restraint. Towns are victimized by hundreds of rockets — please show restraint while you bury your dead once again.

I think it is clear by now: Israel has shown remarkable restraint. It possesses a military with clear superiority over that of its Palestinian neighbors, yet it does not respond to threat after threat, provocation after provocation, with the type of force that would decisively end their conflict.

But sometimes restraint can work against you. Sometimes you just have to say, enough is enough.

“U.S. taxpayer money may soon be going to an entity kidnapping and murdering Israeli and U.S. children,” Paul insisted. “That is unconscionable, and it must end.”

This is not Paul’s first call to end foreign aid to the PA. In April, he introduced a measure that would have cancelled aid to the Palestinian government until they agreed to a cease fire with Israel and issued a public declaration affirming Israel’s right to exist.

Paul’s impassioned and emotional demand that the United States stop enabling irresponsible actors in the Palestinian Authority by providing them with financial aid is tempered only by his 2011 insistence that the U.S. should also stop providing Israel with foreign aid.

“I’m not singling out Israel. I support Israel. I want to be known as a friend of Israel, but not with money you don’t have,” Paul said in his defense. “We can’t just borrow from our kids’ future and give it to countries, even if they are our friends.”

“I would start a little more quickly with those who are enemies of Israel and enemies of the United States, and I’d like to see their aid ended much quicker,” the junior Kentucky senator clarified in 2013. “With regard to Israel, it could be gradual phenomenon. It doesn’t mean we disengage from Israel.”

Given his record opposing aid spending in general, Paul’s call to end foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority loses some of its moral authority.

Given his record opposing aid spending in general, Paul’s call to end foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority loses some of its moral authority.

True. He’s not doing it out of moral outrage, but out of an opportunity to make a case for advancing his agenda and for political positioning. I can’t stand Rand, but he’s right on this one, even if not necessarily for the right reasons.

But, of course, any palestinian terrorists who happen to illegally stumble across our border would receive plenty of taxpayer “AID” under Rand’s recently released ‘NO DEPORTATIONS’ AMNESTY plan.

Eliminating all foreign aid to the ‘palestinian authority’ is an easy call for Paul – a move that has broad support – but, it’s one of those increasingly rare incidences when Rand Paul gets something right.

This is not Paul’s first call to end foreign aid to the PA. In April, he introduced a measure that would have cancelled aid to the Palestinian government until they agreed to a cease fire with Israel and issued a public declaration affirming Israel’s right to exist.

Reminder: The U.S. Secretary of State has designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization. See here. Now that Hamas is part of the Pali “government,” we need to stop funding that government entirely.

I agree with Rand Paul 100%. Our donation of monies to foreign
countries is way out of control. All government spending of our
tax dollars is out of control. We ignore US citizen needs in favor of other countries and/or illegals coming in to this country.

STOP! Charity begins at home. After that, sit down and discuss
what we do with any excess. (I know, right now there is no excess).

We Americans want to help others; however, I wouldn’t be surprised
if we are funding the “other sides” in most of the military conflicts all across the world. In some instances, we are probably funding both sides. I doubt if our government even keeps track.

When the US needed them they were nowhere to be found. They utilize the American alliance when it suits them. This would continue after any cut off in aid because it’s in their interest to do so.

Besides France, Germany, and Italy don’t get cash to stay in NATO. If you have to bribe someone to be your friend…. they ain’t your friend.

They helped out in Korea and are good fighters. I would agree they were no help in Iraq (to say the least) and the country is headed in the wrong direction. But it may be a bit early to write them off at this point.

Turkey is a non-Arab Islamic country with a history of secularism. It’s an important regional power with broader aspirations. Aspirations that if properly directed could serve US interests. Hopefully, some clown in DC will eventually figure this out.

With regard to NATO, a good start would be for the US to make clear collective security costs a minimum 2.5% defense budget. Otherwise that NATO stock you own consists of non-voting shares.

I think they would be better off on their own dime as well. That way they wouldn’t have to worry so much about hysterical American Secretaries Of State and whatnot blubbering sad tales about the Palestinians.

And yet, Paul has lost “moral authority” by articulating a specific reason for a specific country.

elgeneralisimo on July 2, 2014 at 11:35 PM

Not to mention he is talking about a specific country with a very recent list of war crimes as long as a liberal’s nose and packed stem to stern with people who want us DEAD.

I think they would be better off on their own dime as well. That way they wouldn’t have to worry so much about hysterical American Secretaries Of State and whatnot blubbering sad tales about the Palestinians.

sharrukin on July 2, 2014 at 9:57 PM

^ This is PRECISELY the point that the American Zealots never seem to get. Israel constantly has to play “mother may I” if they’re on our dime, and as we’ve just demonstrated for about a decade we cannot be trusted to not suddenly lose our minds entirely.

Hamas wanted to join up with Fatah because they were broke and Fatah is getting US aid. Obama, friend of Hamas, saw a loophole and wants to dump US dollars on, allegedly, the Fatah part of this union which he knows will ultimately flow some of it to Hamas.

The Democrats have been fighting this cut off of aid. People should know that the democrats want to support Hamas since this is the effect of their opposition. Both Fatah & Hamas clearly want the same thing anyway: the total annihilation of Israel and its Jews. Obama knows it and his corrupt democrats know it. They want to keep the Public fooled about a “peace process.”